Flesh or Spirit

Then God remembered Rachel. He listened to her and opened her womb. She conceived and bore a son, and said, "God has taken away my shame." She named him Joseph: "May The Lord add another son to me." Genesis 30:22-24

Rachel had been married to Jacob for nigh on 20 years when she gave birth to Joseph. This is a long time to be frustrated by barrenness. Rachel may have been beautiful outside but she was full of envy and deceit inside, she may have had her husband's heart, but she struggled to have the Lord's. In fact when Jacob takes his family away she steals her father's idols. This shows that she is also a thief and an idolater. Not a good mix.

However, the son she bears is favoured by The Lord. Joseph would be a good man who suffers greatly at the hand of his brothers and sold into slavery. Yet he had a destiny, one of God's making. He was used to protect God's people and provide for them in Egypt in a severe drought.

Rachel would not see him for long as the next son, Benjamin, she so craves would result in her death. Rachel could be said to be a woman of the flesh. She was not a woman of faith towards God. Her life was filled with carnal wrestling. If we were to sit down with her now, where would we find her? In eternity, the place where our time on earth prepares us, what would she have to work with? What would her story be?

I can live a life do frustration because things do not go according to my plan or a life of yieldedness in which My God rules and fashions me for eternity. I have a part to play here as well as there. Will I be ready? 

It is important that I learn to flow with God and not demand life goes how I want. If I am in control then I will be disappointment, disillusioned and angry, but if He is in control I will be humble, soft and lovely in His hand. I think I know which He would prefer, I know which I would prefer. I like being around fragrant people, those broken by life and circumstance because the fragrance of the Holy Spirit is free to come through and bless others. Amen! 

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